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The Minuteman

Friday, October 25, 2013

NEWS

-- Each year, President Dell’Omo and the university senior leadership team are pleased to announce and recognize employees who have earned Additional Annual Performance Awards (AAPA). This is an annual honor earned by the top 20% of Robert Morris University non-union staff. This year, 71 employees received the 2013 AAPA and were recognized at an event held on Oct. 21. A list of the 2013 AAPA Award Recipients is here and photos from the recognition event are here.

PERSONAL MENTION

-- Three RMU professors have developed a mathematical model that determines the optimal locations for natural gas fueling stations in Pittsburgh. The United States lags behind much of the rest of the world in adopting cleaner, more fuel-efficient natural gas vehicles, and a robust network of natural gas fueling stations could spur the transition. Their paper, authored by Tony Kerzmann, assistant professor of mechanical engineering; Gavin Buxton, associate professor of physics; and Jonathan Preisser, assistant professor of mathematics, indicates optimal locations for up to 128 fueling stations in the city of Pittsburgh. The paper is being published in the journal Sustainable Energy Technology and Assessments. Read more about this research.

-- Ben Campbell, assistant professor of engineering, has been named to Pittsburgh Magazine's 40 Under 40. The magazine cited his work in reviving the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences and in helping to build RMU's biomedical engineering program.

-- Carolina Loyola-Garcia's documentary Sobre las Olas: The Story of Flamenco in the U.S.will be screened during the Three Rivers Film Festival, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, and 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Melwood Screening Room in Oakland. Loyola-Garcia is an associate professor of media arts.

-- Anthony Moretti, associate professor of communication, has authored a chapter in the new book, Latinos and American Popular Culture. His research examines the growing presence of Latin-American born players in Major League Soccer and on the U.S. Men's National Team.

YOU'RE INVITED

-- The Rooney International Visting Scholars Program is pleased to announce that Barnie Choudhury will be joining our RMU community for two weeks beginning on Oct. 28. On that Monday we will welcome him at a reception from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Rooney House. All are invited to attend. Choudhury has been a broadcaster for more than 30 years. He was a BBC Correspondent for network television, radio, and online and has won several national and international industry awards. He will give a public lecture on Thursday, Oct. 31, titled "Bent Cops, Honor Killings, and No-Go Zones: Why We Need Investigative Journalism" from 1 to 2 p.m. and again from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, titled "The Death of the Impartial Journalist: Is there such a thing as 'the Journalist of Involvement.'" Both talks take place in the International Suite in the Sewall Center.

-- Please join us as RMU kicks off our annual United Way campaign. It's easier than ever to support the charity of your choice -- or donate to the United Way's Impact Fund that provides health and human services to your friends and neighbors in need. Go to rmu.edu/unitedwaytoday to make your gift ... and read on to learn more about how RMU and United Way are teaming up to change lives.

To celebrate the way that you and your RMU co-workers live generously, please attend ...

Last year, we had a very successful United Way campaign with more than 114 gifts totaling almost $32,000. Your efforts helped show the people of Pittsburgh the generosity of the RMU community, making RMU one of its top contributors! Remember, your favorite charity may be on the United Way’s list of organizations it supports. You can choose your own charity—or give to the United Way’s general fund. Plus, please remember that RMU offers us the convenience of giving through payroll deduction, which makes contributing to United Way a little bit easier for all of us.

As usual we'll have Halloween fun, food and festivities -- including our Costume Contest and Prizes. Plus, if you've made your United Way gift, you'll have a chance to win one of our Raffle Prizes including autographed Steeler jerseys, an iPad or Kindle Fire or a free RMU parking space. Everyone is invited to attend the happy hour ... but only United Way donors are eligible for the raffle. Any United Way donor who also attends the happy hour on Oct. 29 gets a second raffle ticket entry with double the chances to win!

-- Acclaimed author Bill Bryson will speak at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the International Suite of Sewall Center, before taking the stage that evening at Heinz Hall as part of the Pittsburgh Speakers Series presented by Robert Morris University.

THE RMU FOOTBALL COACH'S SHOW...Featuring John Banaszak continues Monday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. inside the Buffalo Wild Wings in Cranberry. Come on out for the live taping and get the inside scoop on Colonials Football. The show will air Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 9 p.m. on 970 AM ESPN.THE 8TH ANNUAL SUSAN HOFACRE 5K RUN/WALK...named in honor of the late RMU athletic director is Saturday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. starting and finishing at Joe Walton Stadium on the RMU Campus. The event benefits the Susan Hofacre Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information or to register, please contact Dr. John Clark in the RMU Sport Management Department at 412-397-6378 or clarkj@rmu.edu.

RMU basketball and ice hockey are free for RMU students, faculty, and staff only. For other ticket prices go to www.rmucolonials.com.

WELLNESS TIP -- Stay hydrated! To treat an acute migraine, drink a full glass of water -- dehydration can trigger headaches. Even if you need to take a medication for the pain, try wrapping your head with an Ace bandage so that it covers your eyes, then lie down and breathe deeply. This often helps the pain pass more quickly.

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